If there was one subject or one activity that acted like a magic pill, bringing cognitive, social, health, and educational growth and benefits, wouldn’t you want that?
Of course you would– and so does Sophia Academy. Decades-long research shows that MUSIC is that magic activity. Here are just some of the benefits (from NAMM newsletter article “Benefits of Learning and Playing Music”):
- Music engages areas of the brain which are involved with paying attention, making predictions and updating events in our memory.
- Musicians are found to have superior working memory compared to non-musicians.
- Musical experience strengthens many of the same aspects of brain function that are impaired in individuals with language and learning difficulties.
- Those who played an instrument for two years showed a stronger “neurophysiological distinction” between certain sounds than children who didn’t get the instrumental training.
- Listening to music reduced heart rate, blood pressure and anxiety in heart disease patients.
- Music can trigger the brain to release chemicals that distract the body from pain.
- Music both makes [people] feel happier and results in increased blood flow in their blood vessels.
- Students involved in music programs scored 107 points higher on the SAT’s than students with no participation.
At Sophia Academy, all students learn music theory and take guitar lessons. They had a great deal of fun at the end of the year producing their own music through a music tech program on mac computers. We thank Mr. Tucker for his faithful service to the students at Sophia.
